Steelers/Falcons
Time: NOON CST
TV: CBS
Spread: PIT -3
M/L: PIT -150; ATL +130
Total: 55.5
Betting odds c/o Bovada
The Pittsburgh Steelers scored a 42-21 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals and have won five of its past seven games. This week, the Steelers will travel to face the 5-8 Atlanta Falcons. NFL betting shows the Pittsburgh Steelers as three point favorites according to Bovada.
The Falcons have been better as of late, after reeling off a five-game losing streak starting with the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4. As of the 27-17 win over Tampa Bay on Nov. 9, the Falcons have gone 3-2, with other wins over the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals.
Atlanta has a top notch pass offense, ranking 5th in the NFL with 284.3 yards per game. The rush is not as powerful, accounting for just 96.7 yards per game (23rd in NFL). However, the biggest problem for the Falcons has been its defense. Atlanta has the worst pass defense in the league and ranks in the bottom third of rush defense.
Last week against the Packers, the Falcons gave up 502 yards, but the Packers converted 7-of-12 on third down and put up 43 points, which was enough. The Falcons outscored GB 20-9 in the fourth quarter, but were able to pull no closer than 10 points until a 2-yard TD pass to Harry Douglas with just over two minutes to go to get within six.
The Falcons had a tough time stopping Eddy Lacy in particular, as he ran for a TD and caught three TD passes, which aided GB to the 24-point lead it held at the half.
In the last five games, the Falcons have given up 17, 17, 26, 18 and 43 points. Only the Green Bay game was bad, in other words. Over the three victories against Tampa Bay, Carolina and Arizona, the Falcons held opponents to 17.3 points per contest. Given this, the team could easily win against Pittsburgh this week, and bettors may find the +130 moneyline bet on Atlanta attractive for the reason of its improved ‘D.’
Pittsburgh will test every bit of that defense though. The Steelers average 432 yards per game this season, ranking 2nd in pass yardage and 8th in the rush. Last week, Ben Roethlisberger threw for 350 yards in a 42-21 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on 25-of-39 passing. Big Ben threw three TDs with no picks, for a 86.5 QBR.
Le’Veon Bell had a huge game, rushing or 185 yards on 26 carries, with two TDs. Bell now has 1,231 yards on the season with a 5.1 yards per carry average. Ers Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant each caught for over 100 yards, while Brown was targeted 14 times and came up with nine receptions. Brown is up to 1,375 receiving yards on the season while Bell is the No. 2 WR out of the backfield, with 693 yards on 71 catches.
TE Heath Miller has been good for 11.2 yards per reception and has three TDs on the year while ranking No. 3 on Pitts receiving yardage. Bryant also has caught for 453 now on the year, and is second to only Brown for receiving TDs with seven (Brown has 11).
Expect this game to feature plenty of offense and it should be an exciting one. The total is set at 55.5 on the live NFL line The Steelers are a more talented team, but Atlanta has looked good of late and held its own with Green Bay last week. It seems like this could be Atlanta’s week to pull a small upset.
TRENDS:
PIT: 8-5 ATS overall this season, 4-3 ATS on the road, 4-0 ATS in last 4 in December, 0-5 ATS in last 5 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in previous game; OVER 8-1 in last 9 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in previous game.
ATL: UNDER 5-0 in last 5 games after allowing more than 30 points in previous game; 5-0 ATS in last 5 games when playing on Sunday following a Monday night game; UNDER 5-1 in last 6 following an SU loss.
